??Cancer of mouth, tongue or throat??

[Cowboy]

Anyone who just smokes cigars been diagnosed with cancer? If so, what is your age, how long and how many? I am in a big debate right now----I am fighting these local dudes who insist cigars are equal to or worse than cigaretes. Google only has stats for anti, so I am only arguing my opinion----which I do believe. Any Dr's who can weigh in?

[Fumioso]

Asking this sort of question on a cigar board is probably not the best way to get unbiased information. That aside, the only cigar smoker I know to have died of oral cancer is Ulysses S. Grant, who is reported to have smoked up to 20 cigars a day.

I am not a doctor, but my advice would be to limit your cigar intake to less than ten per day. Herf exceptions apply.

Cigar smoking is not risk free, and everyone knows this. A google search (or a visit to your local library) might be a better way of conducting this research, IMO. There's a ton of research out there courtesy the anti-smoking lobbies.

[a2vr6]

HEre is something from American Lung Association site:
LINKS:
http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=39859

Cigar Smoking Fact Sheet

October 2006

Recent increased publicity of cigar use by celebrities, the introduction of cigar bars and the sub-culture of cigar paraphernalia such as humidors and clippers have combined to create a glamorous aura around a deadly product. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, an estimated 5 billion cigars were consumed in 2005.1

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It was estimated that 2.2 percent of the United States adult population were current cigar smokers in 2005.2
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In 2004, 12.8 percent of high school students were current cigar smokers.3 In 2004, only 5.2 percent of middle school students smoked cigars.4
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Among all age groups, cigar use is higher among men than women. Hispanics are also more likely to smoke cigars than other race/ethnic groups.2-4
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Cigars contain the same addictive, toxic and carcinogenic compounds found in cigarettes. In fact, cigar smokers may spend up to an hour smoking a single large cigar that can contain as much tobacco as a pack of cigarettes.5
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While almost all cigarette smokers inhale, most cigar smokers do not. Therefore, the risk of lung cancer is lower for cigar smokers than cigarette smokers. However, the risk increases with the more frequent cigar smoking and depth of inhalation. Studies show that men who smoke at least five cigars a day and report moderate inhalation, experience lung cancer deaths at about two-thirds the rate of men who smoke one pack of cigarettes a day.6
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Cigar smokers experience higher rates of lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive lung disease than nonsmokers. Studies show that men who smoke at least three cigars a day are two to three times more likely to die of lung cancer than non-smokers.7
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In addition, studies have shown that cigar smokers who inhale are 6 times more likely to die from oral cancer and 39 times more likely to die from laryngeal cancers than nonsmokers.8
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In addition, when saliva containing smoke constituents is swallowed, the esophagus is exposed to carcinogens. The death rate from esophageal cancer is 3 to 4 times higher in male cigar smokers than in lifelong male nonsmokers. Oral and esophageal cancer risks are similar among cigar smokers and cigarette smokers.9
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Secondhand cigar smoke has much higher concentrations of toxins and carcinogens than do cigarettes. Health effects on nonsmokers exposed to cigar smoke have not been studied, but it is assumed to mirror or be greater than that seen with cigarette smoking.10
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In June of 2000, the Federal Trade commission and seven of the USA's largest cigar producers made a deal to require warnings on cigar packages and in advertisements.11

For more information on tobacco, please review the Tobacco Morbidity and Mortality Trend Report in the Data and Statistics section of our website or call the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872).


Sources:

1. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Tobacco Outlook. Economic Research Service, May 2006.
2. Centers for Disease Control. MMWR. Tobacco Use Among Adults, United States, 2005. Vol. 55(42); 1145-1148; October 27, 2006.
3. Centers for Disease Control. MMWR. Tobacco Use, Access and Exposure to Tobacco in media among Middle and High School Students, U.S., 2004. Vol. 54(12), April 2005.
4. Ibid.
5. National Cancer Institute. Cigars: Health Effects and Trends. Smoking and Tobacco Control Mongraph No. 9; 1998.
6. Baker, F.; Ainsworth, S.R.; Dye, J.T.; et al. Health Risks Associated with Cigar Smoking. Journal of the American Medical Association 2000; 284(6):735-740
7. Iribarren, C.; Tekawa, I.S; Sidney, S.; Friedman, G.D. Effect of Cigar Smoking on the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Cancer in Men. New England Journal of Medicine 1999; 340: 1773-80.
8. National Cancer Institute. Cigars: Health Effects and Trends. Smoking and Tobacco Control Mongraph No. 9; 1998.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). FTC Announces Settlements Requiring Disclosure of Cigar Health Risks. 2000.

[DCMD]

Originally Posted by Cowboy

Anyone who just smokes cigars been diagnosed with cancer? If so, what is your age, how long and how many? I am in a big debate right now----I am fighting these local dudes who insist cigars are equal to or worse than cigaretes. Google only has stats for anti, so I am only arguing my opinion----which I do believe. Any Dr's who can weigh in?

Asking individual people their personal experience with cancer is a bad way to go about assessing the risk of getting cancer. The whole point of doing studies with a large number of people is to average out the effects of personal genetics and to focus on a few risk factors.

If you want to know the risk of smoking cigars you have to look up some health studies. I have done this once before, posting a few research articles on this subject: http://www.clubstogie.com/vb/showthread.php?t=23096.

I can't remember everything that was written in there, but cigars do pose a risk of oral, throat and even lung cancer which appears to be dose dependent. If I remember correclty one of the articles states that smokers who smoke one cigar a day have a 17% increased risk of getting cancer, although I can't remember the type.

Interestingly, if my memory serves me, even though most people don't inhale cigars put you at increased risk of lungs cancer. The specific increase in risk is somewhere in the articles I posted. Apparently the fermentation process that is used in cigar tobacco leads to the formation of a compound that enters the blood stream and has a particularly negative effect on your lungs.

There is more information in the articles, but the take home message is yes cigar smoke, like other smoke, is irritating to the tissues of the throat, mouth and lips and that increases your chance of cancer. Nonetheless I enjoy my 1-2 cigars a week and hopefully it won't increase my risk that much.

Hope it helps

[borndead1]

Anyone who gets cancer and decides to give up their cigars PM me for my address.

[Rploaded]

I think the answer lies in the question. If you go to extremes with anything may it be cigar smoking or motorcycle racing or crossing the street, every item in our day to day life has risks. The point to that is cigar smoking depending on genetics and other factors in moderation is probably not bad for you. Smoking 45 cigars a day is bad for you, just the same as jumping out of a car going 60 is bad for you, but then again some people survive that too. Do people get cancer yes, do non smokers get cancer yes they do. If people in your neighborhood think cigars are worse then cigarettes they are for sure mistaken. Most cigars smokers smoke less then 3 per week. They do not inhale and generally are people of a more affluent background so they are generally in better health then the average cig smoker. So the answer to your question is: Yes and No and Maybe; enjoy your cigars, enjoy your life,and most importantly do what makes you happy. Just my

[RGD]

Originally Posted by Cowboy

. . . I am fighting these local dudes who insist cigars are equal to or worse than cigaretes. . . .

Never wrestle with a pig in mud - you both get dirty and the pig loves it. There simply is not the data to support your side of the argument. Finding one or two individuals to support your side would be pointless in the face of the tremendous amounts of research against smoking anything.

I can tell you that everybody that I know who died from cancer - smoked. But not everyone that I know with cancer - smokes. I also knew people who died - but not from cancer and never smoked.

My Grandmother was the most prolific smoker I knew. She smoked 3 to 4 packs of Camel straights a day. Yes she had cancer when she died - but no lung, throat or mouth cancer. And she died of heart failure at the age of 94.

My Grandfather was a heavy cigar smoker. Died at age 67 from a traveling blood clot that ripped his veins open (there is a technical name for it) - cardiac arrest when it reached his heart.

So there it is - you flips the coin of life and takes your chances.


Ron

[Bob]

We all gonna DIE of something...Then the bugs get to EAT our bodies JUST LIKE THEY INTENDED in the first place!!! THOSE little critters in your guts and all those little thinking cells that communicate on the molecular level all talking to eachother are in for the time of your life and theirs!! YOU are living a symbiotic relationship with them....Enjoy it they are thinking about what they are gonna do next with you! Contrary to popular opinion they are in more control than you are!!

[j6ppc]

Originally Posted by borndead1

Anyone who gets cancer and decides to give up their cigars PM me for my address.

OK that is tasteless.

[c2000]

How about moving this depressing thread to the frequently asked medical questions section..(do a search this has been discussed a hundred times)

Jerry in Minnesota.

[Bob]

My father had a quad bypass....last year weight went down to 123 lbs....my son caught him smoking as he was taking down my brothers dog run last week....OLD GEEZER just gonna keep doing what he wants....to hell with science...He is gonna do what he wants!! His first heart attack came on because he was taking a tractor tire off a tractor with a tire iron in a field! Damn, that guy and his ability to work and push his body! I gotta give the old fella credit! He's one tough dude!!

[azn_fury]

There are a bunch of factors that come in to play when you want to compare cigarettes and cigars. Cigarettes are worse because they have more carcinogens however cigar smoking + other carcinogens you injest in some way can make it just as bad. Even though Ulysses S. Grant smoked like 20 cigars a day I think (this is just my opinion) he got cancer from the fact that he was a total germophobe and ate everything burnt to a crisp. Sadly burnt food (bbq and stuff like that) is worse than just plain burning organic material (burning plants, exhaust fumes, etc.). My professor actually has some research data to back it up which makes me feel bad when I think about all the bbq I have eaten over the years. The most important thing about all this is that if you everything in moderation you won't get cancer unless you are genetically prone to it. Your body has a bunch of mechanisms to repair mutations caused by carcinogens but however if you injest too many carcinogens it overwhelms your body and mutations start to slip by.

[Airborne RU]

Everyone must read this essay (see attachement) if you haven't already.

You cannot let fear rule your life because life is inheirantly a dangerous proposition. America's obsession with safety is the worst things about our great country. As Messer Gordon says "Safety is a fine thing, but as an obession it rots the soul."

[azn_fury]

On a side note: I think if I decide to graduate with a biochemisty degree instead of a pharmacy degree I think I will make casual cigar smoking and its effects my research project. Then we can put to rest how bad cigar smoking is.

[IB Vitola]

There is undeniably some risk to smoking cigars, how much is really debatable and depends on frequency of smoking.

Now I am not a medical doctor, but, I have asked my own MD about cigar smoking and its potential dangers. Following is what he said.

1 - He also smokes cigars on occasion
2 - Smoke no more than one cigar a week
3 - Do not inhale
4 - The only time the cigar should touch your lips is when you take a draw; never keep the cigar between your lips as you would a cigarette NEVER!.

If I follow my doctors advice, he said "I should have nothing to worry about."

Now consider the following:

High profile cigarette smokers like: John Wayne, Joe DiMaggio, Edward R. Morrow, Humphrey Bogart, Yul Brenner, Nat King Cole, Robert Ryan, and countless tens of thousands of non celebrates have died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or lung cancer associated with cigarettes.

High profile cigar smokers like: Winston Churchill, Milton Berle, Groucho Marx, Sigmund Freud, Mark Twain, George Burns lived into their late 80's or 90's without getting cancer. Go figure. And finally do not forget that there is also a genetic component or pre-disposition to cancers of all types and any environmental substance can act as a trigger.

I hope this has been helpful, but, undoubtably will trigger more debate.

Source: http://fujipub.com/btac/ss9911.html[/url]